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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to hiring and licensing certain individuals lawfully |
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present in the United States as peace officers. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. The heading to Chapter 370, Local Government |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 370. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS RELATING TO [MUNICIPAL AND |
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COUNTY] HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY OF MORE THAN ONE TYPE OF LOCAL |
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GOVERNMENT |
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SECTION 2. Chapter 370, Local Government Code, is amended |
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by adding Section 370.007 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 370.007. COMMISSIONING AND EMPLOYING AS PEACE OFFICERS |
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CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS LAWFULLY PRESENT IN THE UNITED STATES. |
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Notwithstanding any other law, a political subdivision that |
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commissions and employs peace officers may commission and employ as |
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a peace officer an individual who is lawfully present in the United |
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States as the result of receiving deferred action from the United |
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States Department of Homeland Security and who has obtained |
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employment authorization from the United States Citizenship and |
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Immigration Services. |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter G, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 1701.3095 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1701.3095. LICENSING OF CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS LAWFULLY |
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PRESENT IN THE UNITED STATES. The commission shall issue a peace |
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officer license to a person who: |
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(1) meets the requirements of this chapter and the |
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commission's rules; |
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(2) is lawfully present in the United States as the |
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result of receiving deferred action from the United States |
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Department of Homeland Security; and |
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(3) has obtained employment authorization from the |
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United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. |
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SECTION 4. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement shall adopt or |
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amend rules as necessary to comply with Section 1701.3095, |
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Occupations Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |